Potential long-term habitable conditions on planets with primordial H-He atmospheres

Title	Potential long-term habitable conditions on planets with primordial H-He atmospheres
Authors	Marit Mol Lous, Ravit Helled, Christoph Mordasini
Date	06/28/2022
DOI	10.1038/s41550-022-01699-8
Introduction	Cold super-Earths that retain their primordial, H-He dominated atmospheres might possess surfaces warm enough to support liquid water. This warmth would result from the collision-induced absorption (CIA) of infra-red light by hydrogen, which intensifies with pressure. However, the sustained potential for such exotic planetary habitability has not been extensively studied. This research investigates the duration of this potential by simulating planets with varying core masses, envelope masses, and semi-major axes. Our findings indicate that terrestrial and super-Earth planets, with masses ranging from ∼ 1 to 10 M⊕, can maintain temperate surface conditions for up to 5-8 Gyr at radial distances greater than ∼ 2 AU. The required envelope masses are approximately ∼ 10−4 M⊕ (two orders of magnitude more massive than Earth's), although this can be an order of magnitude smaller when closer to the star or larger when further away. This outcome suggests that the concept of planetary habitability warrants a re-evaluation, aiming for a more inclusive definition beyond classical parameters.
Element	Hydrogen (H) , Helium (He)
Industry	Space , Research & Laboratory

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